Tropical Cyclone Pam, one of the strongest storms seen in the South Pacific in years, is churning towards the country of Vanuatu and triggering storm warnings in other island nations.
The Category 5 storm is whipping up winds of 160 miles per hour (260 kph), triggering concerns of torrential rainfall, flooding and landslides. The Vanuatu Meterological Services warned of “very destructive winds and very rough to phenomenal seas with heavy swells.”
Evacuation alerts have been issued for several parts of the country.
The storm is expected to intensify in the next 12 to 24 hours as it heads southwards, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The storm is projected to pass Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila on Friday evening. The capital sits on the coastline, which is vulnerable to storm surges during powerful cyclones.
Weak buildings, strong winds
The archipelago nation contains 83 small islands, many of which have little infrastructure and lack the strong housing structures that can endure a walloping storm. Because of the tropical climate in Vanuatu, some of the housing is made of lighter building materials including straw and corrugated metals.
“Everybody is concerned about shelter, ensuring that the shelters are going to be strong enough for them,” said Alice Clements of UNICEF, speaking from Vanuatu.
Parts of the Vanuatu will likely see floods exceeding 16 inches, according to forecasts. Residents prepared for the oncoming storm, boarding up windows and chopping down trees that stand close to buildings, in case they could become debris or cause further damage or injury.
Storm preparations
Residents have been advised to seek shelter in places such as churches, universities and schools.
“The strongest thing they’ve got is cement churches,” said Inga Mepham, the program director for CARE International for the Vanuatu program. “Some of them don’t have that. It’s hard to find a structure that you’d think would be able to withstand a Category 5 [storm].”
“The cyclone’s coming through but then we’ve probably got 48 hours of humungous tropical storms as well, which is going to dump a lot of rain on an area that’s been hit by a cyclone that may have a lot of damage.
“There’s a lot of risk right now, and there’s a lot of risk in the next four to five days as well.”
Cyclone Pam has triggered watches and warnings in the Solomon Islands and New Zealand.
The storm is expected to weaken after leaving the Vanuatu island chain and could impact the North Island of New Zealand by late Sunday or Monday.